Despite Alberto, drought conditions threaten fish populations

Paul and Allen of Savannah pose with a nice catch of big black drum they caught while fishing around the north end jetties on Tybee. They were casting live shrimp out near the rocks and brought in many 5- to 9-pound black drum. They also had an impressive catch of speckled trout.

Tropical Storm Alberto dumped enough rain to boost the water levels in many of the area river systems, but unless there is more to come, the rises won't last very long - a few days at the most.

And the changes are not expected to alter much of the fishing activity, with fish now seeking out the deeper pools and channels.

For the most part. there has been excellent action for pan fish thus far in the spring and early summer period. Catches of redbreasts, bluegills and shellcrackers have been numerous, and along with them have been many reports of good crappie, catfish and largemouth bass activity.

Department of Natural Resources biologists say the recent rains will extend the season somewhat, or at least revive some of the areas where river levels have dropped too low.

However, there is concern that if drought conditions continue, the fish populations in all the Georgia river systems will be impacted - that the population levels may decline.

River systems such as the Ogeechee, Canoochee, Ohoopee, Alatamaha, Satilla, Savannah and St. Marys all have floodplains which, when under water, provide important food areas for the fisheries of each.

When the rivers are low for extended periods of time, the food supply dwindles and the fish become concentrated wherever water is available.

Metter-based Ted Will, senior fisheries biologist for the DNR's Region Six, says that during low-water conditions, predator fish such as largemouth bass and flathead catfish have a feeding heyday.

About flathead catfish

While there is little or no concern of detrimental impact from largemouth bass, the same is not true with flathead catfish - a species that can severely impact redbreast and bullhead catfish populations.

Wherever flatheads gain control, the populations of the redbreasts and bullheads begin to dwindle, mainly because all three habitat similar waters.

Georgia DNR fisheries biologists continually monitor all of the river systems in an effort to keep flatheads from expanding their territories.

Native to northwest Georgia, flatheads started showing up in the Ocmulgee River system in the 1970s, in the Altamaha in the '80s, and in the Satilla in the '90s, according to Waycross-based Bert Deener, the DNR's supervisor for Region Six.

"It was in 1996 that we found flatheads in the Satilla," Deener said, noting that six or seven were discovered during the first sampling.

The Satilla River is considered one of the best - if not the best - redbreast rivers in Georgia, and the establishment of flatheads has been a major concern.

Deener noted that the lower areas of the Satilla are where the flatheads have become more colonized and the redbreast populations have been affected.

Removal program

In an effort to keep them under control, periodic removals through electric shocking takes place.

Their numbers have increased to such a level that several hundreds of pounds are taken each time removal operations take place.

"We supply a lot of food banks with these fish each time we do a shocking," Deener noted.

While controlling the number of flatheads in the Satilla is an ongoing effort, flatheads in the Altamaha have become a popular species for recreational fishermen.

"It is a love-hate situation on the Altamaha," Deener said. "A lot of people like them, and others wish they were not there."

Apparently flatheads have not extended their territories to the St. Marys, Ogeechee or Savannah rivers - at least, none have shown up in any of the periodic samplings.

Matt Thomas, a regional DNR fisheries supervisor who is stationed at Demere's Creek, said that one flathead was found in the Ogeechee River several years ago, but none have been found since.

He also said that although flatheads are known to exist in the Savannah River above the Savannah Bluff Lock and Dam near Augusta, none have been found anywhere in the river system below the dam.

And it is hoped that they never do.

If anyone should catch a catfish they think is a flathead in any of the river systems not known to have them, they are urged to report their findings immediately to the DNR.

Flatheads have a squared rather than a forked tail. The body is long, and its head is wide and distinctly flattened.

Too, the lower jaw of a flathead protrudes beyond the upper jaw, and its coloring is mottled, varying in shades of brown and yellow.

The Georgia record for the largest flathead was set in 2000 and weighed 67 pounds, 8 ounces. It was caught in the Altamaha River by Gene Middleton.

Governor's Cup finals

Weather conditions kept the competing fleet for the final event of the 2006 Governor's Cup billfish series to a minimum, but when it was over, Trashman, owned by Burke Wall, was not only the winner of the Savannah River Front Blue Water Blowout, but also the overall series.

Wall and his team scored second in the first event out of Bahia Blue at Thunderbolt, and third in the second event held by the Savannah Sport Fishing Club out of the Savannah Yacht Club.

Trashman had 450 points overall, taking first in the final event with one sailfish caught and released, plus two wahoo and two dolphinfish weighed in.

Placing second overall was Lonesome Dove, owned by O.C. Welch.

The Lonesome Dove team scored a total of 390 for three events, taking third in the final with two dolphinfish weighed in and first in the Savannah Sport Fishing Club event. This team had the only blue marlin caught and released (it was caught by John Willoughby).

Placing third overall was Just Teasin, owned by Tommy Williams, with a total of 340 points.

Mojito, owned by Stan Strickland, finished second in the final event with two dolphinfish weighed in and fourth overall with 265 points.

For the series, only one blue marlin and two sailfish were caught and released. The other sailfish was taken by Bound-n-Blue, owned by Dr. Jackson Morgan, who finished fifth overall with 250 points.

Female Angler honors went to Laura Wall, while the Young Angler award was taken by Christopher Lane.

Brent Bazemore, fishing aboard Take Five, took the honors for the largest dolphinfish landed. Bazemore's fish tipped the scales at 40.35 pounds.

Brent McCullough, aboard Just Teasin, landed the largest tuna of the series - one weighing in at 27.04 pounds, while Steve Schmelter, aboard Bound-n-Blue, caught the largest wahoo - one weighing in at 61.75 pounds.

A total of 18 teams competed.

Outdoor Editor John Burke can be reached at 652-0299 or john.burke@ savannahnow.com.